Casket latching mechanism



Sept. 18, 1962 J. P. W'ILKIRSON CASKET uvrcamc MECHANISM Filed June 17, 1959 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,054,631 CASKET LATCHING MECHANISM Jim P. Wilkirson, 3025 Trice Ave., Waco, Tex. Filed June 17, 1959, Ser. No. 820,988 3 Claims. (Cl. 292-66) This invention relates to latching mechanisms for burial caskets, and in general, aims to provide a very simple, easily installed, easily serviced latching mechanism which will pull down and lock the cap or lid of such a casket. The device of the invention is used with at least one other similar latch to effect secure locking of the casket. The invention aims to simplify the more elaborate, diflicultto-install-and-service latching mechanisms known to the casket art. Other objects are to provide a latching mechanism which is easily manufactured, which is adaptable to both the full couch and half couch caskets, as well as the glass top casket, which is powerful in action so that it will compress the seals interposed between the lid and casket body to make a tight seal, which is easy acting, and which is located on and is operable from the outside of the casket.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevation showing part of a casket with its cap or lid closed and locked by the mechanism of the invention, the latch also being shown in dotted lines in partially unlocked position;

FIG. 2 is a detail in section, on a larger scale;

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross section on line 3--3 of FIG. 1, but on the scale of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of nearly all of the latchin-g mechanism, about full size.

Referring particularly to the drawings, the sheet metal casket body 10, only a small portion of which is shown, has a molding 11 integral with its side walls and extending around the four sides of the casket (not shown). Secured to the fiat vertical outer face of the molding 11 at the front of the casket is a latch support and guide 12 which is also of sheet metal and has offset end portions 13, 14. Rivet holes 15 are shown in the offset portions 13, 14 to facilitate attaching the latch support 12 to the molding 11; however, the latch support 12 conveniently may be welded or otherwise rigidly fastened by its end portions 13, 14 to the exterior of molding 11. When so fixed, the major part of the latch support 12 is spaced a short distance (Vs in. to A in.) from the face of the molding to which it is attached. The latch support has a bore 16 for a pivot pin 17 and an elongated generally horizontal slot 18 for a purpose to be explained.

The latch member 20 is a fiat metal piece pointed at one end and having an arm 21 extending at right angles from the opposite end, where a pivot pin 22 is provided. Pivot pin 22 mounts the latch member 20 off center to swing in a vertical plane on the end of a short lever arm 23 which is part of a latch-operating lever 24, said operating lever swinging on pin 17. A roller carried on the inner face of and projecting from latch member 20 travels along slot 18 when the operating lever 24 moves the latch member back and forth. The long arm of the operating lever extends horizontally when the latch is in looking position (full line position of FIG. 1).

The latch keeper is secured to the outside surface of the molding of the casket lid or cap 31. Preferably 3,054,631 Patented Sept. 18, 1962 the latch keeper 30 is a single piece of metal shaped to provide a flat head 32 which is riveted or welded to cap 31. Extending at right angles to head 32 is an arm 33 having a flange or lip 34 at its lower end, extending at right angles. The lower edge of the latch member 20 is moved over the lip 34 and pulls down on it to pull the lid or cap 31 tight against the elastomeric seal. The sealing means is not shown because it is not a part of the invention, but it should be a seal which is continuous around the top edges of the casket. The cap or lid may have a complementary seal. The lid or cap has tight hinges, not floating or yielding hinges. Slot 18 is not straight throughout its length 'but for about half that length has an upward curvature followed by a downward curvature, to cause the latch member (as lever 24 is swung) to be lifted over the keeper lip and then pulled down. The curvature or lift of the slot may be greater than the one illustrated.

To conceal the latch as much as possible, a flanged cap plate 35, of sheet metal or other material to match the exterior of the casket, is secured tothe latch support 12 by brazing, welding, press-fitting, or other appropriate methods. The upper flange 36 of the cap plate 35 has an opening 37 through which the latch keeper 30 pro jects when the parts are in locking positions. The lower flange 38 of the cap plate has an opening 39 for the swingable operating lever 24.

Operation of the described latch involves nothing more than swinging lever arm 26 to horizontal position to engage the latch member 20 with the keeper 30. Swinging the arm 26 down as indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 1 will release the latch keeper and the cap or lid may then be raised on its hinges. With an 82 in. casket, one of the described latches will be 20 /2 in. from either end of the casket, so that there will be 41 in. between the two latches. This makes a satisfactory latching for a hinged cap or lid. Of course more than two latches may be employed if desired.

Having described one embodiment of my invention in detail without limiting myself thereto, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A burial casket having a body provided with front and rear walls, and having a cap, the cap being hinged to the casket at the rear wall thereof; the combination therewith of a latching mechanism for securely locking the cap at the front wall of the casket; said latching mechanism including a keeper fixed to the outside surface of the cap at the front or free edge thereof and projecting downwardly over the front wall of the casket when the cap is closed; a latch support and guide fixed to the outside of the front wall of the casket near the top edge thereof and directly beneath said keeper; a latch member engageable with said keeper to lock the cap in casket-closing position; means fixed to the latch member and engaging complementary means on the latch support and guide to confine the latch member to a predetermined path of travel when the latch member is moved to and from its locking position; a hand-operated latch operating lever pivotally supported on said latch support and guide so as to swing in a vertical plane closely adjacent and substantially parallel to the front wall of the casket; and a pivot connecting the working end of said latch operating lever with said latch member, so that swinging of the operating lever causes the latch member to move over and engage the keeper to lock the cap securely; the entire latching mechanism including the keeper being secured on the outside of the casket with no openings in the casket when the latching mechanism is installed.

2. The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said means fixed to the latch member is a roller projecting laterally therefrom and inwardly toward the front wall of the casket, and said complementary means on the latch support and guide is an elongated slot cut in said latch support and guide and extending generally horizontally.

3. The invention defined in claim 2, wherein the slot is straight for part of its length, then curves upward, then descends again, to raise the latch member and then lower it over the keeper as the operating lever is swun g.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Mathews July 25, 1922 Clark May 26, 1931 Dellapent Sept. 30, 1952 Baker July 10, 1956 Baker July 10, 1956 Rep Aug. 9, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany June 25, 1934 

